Improvement in piano attachments



C. T'. SCHNEIDER.

Piano Attachments.

Patented Sept. 8,1874.

UNITED STATES CARL T. SCHNEIDER,

PATENT QFFICE.

OF NEwYoEK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PIANO ATTACHMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,769, dated September 8, 1874; application filed December 23, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL T. SoENEIDEE, of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Piano with Bell Attachment, of which the following is a description:

This invention relates to an arrangement of bell or steel plates with suitable keys or hammers and the iron frame of a piano to obtain the elfect of the sounding or playing of bells in combination with the usual sounds of the strings, or of two separate instruments played at the same time.

The keys or hammers of the bells or plates are operated from the same key-bar or lever which operates the usual piano action or hammer, acting upon their respective strings.

The frame in which the hammers for the bells or plates work is connected with the treadle, so as to enable the player instantly, and at pleasure, to connect or disconnect this bell-play arrangement.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure I represents a top view of a piano with my improved bell arrangement attached in one form or modification. Fig. II is a cross-section at line or 2, Fig. I. Fig. III is a view of the improved attachment as usually arranged by me.

A represents the iron plate of a piano on which the strings are stretched in the usual manner. On this iron plate bars or blocks a n are arranged upon which steel plates D D, of suitable length, thickness, and width are fastened.

The bars or blocksn u may be made of wood or metal; but, if made of metal, paper, straw, or other fibrous material, must be placed betlgveen the same and the steel or metal plates D Should only a small number of steel plates be desired to be used, the same can all be placed upon one set of bars, side by side; but, if a greater number are desired, it will be found preferable to place the same, as here represented, in two rows above each other, giving sufiicient space between the upper plates D to allow a free motion of the hammers o to act upon the lower plates D. Behind this row of plates D D a frame, B, is arranged, capable of a slight upward or downward motion, being mounted on pivoted vibrating arms 0 c, as shown in Fig. III, or having a sliding movement up and down in suitable guides 12 0, attached to the iron plate A,

as shown in the modified arrangement, Figs.

I and II. In this frame B levers J are arranged, capable of vibrating upward and downward upon suitable pins, and provided with flexible rod and suitable hammers or knobs v at their forward ends, arranged to operate upon the metal plates D or D. To the end of the key or key-lever N, which operates the usual piano-action M, a rod, 1?, is attached, passing upward through the iron plate A, and actingagainst the under side of the lever J. A small spring is arranged on the top of each lever J to press the after end of said lever J downward upon this rod P, and, at the same time, to keep the hammer 22 away from the metal plates, except when acted upon.

When the forward end of the key-lever N is acted upon the hammer M will be operated in the usual manner to act against the string; at the same time the rod P will be moved upward and act against the under side of the after end of the lever J, and cause, thereby,

the hammer t at the forward end of said lever J, to strike one of the metal plates D or D, producing, thereby, the desired bell sound.

The frame B, in which the levers J move, may be connected with the treadle for the purpose of moving the same, together with its levers, downward to bring the rods P P, acting against the levers J J, into action, and thereby connect the attachment with the regular movement of the piano.

W hen the treadle is not depressed, a counter-sprin g, s, Fig. III, suitably arranged, serves to raise the frame B and disconnect the attachment.

In the same manner a bar, covered on its under side with woolen cloth or some other soft material, may be arranged above the strings and connected to the treadle in such a manner that said bar can be moved upon the strings to deaden their sound whenever it is desired to work the bells independent of the strings.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the key-lever N, rod P,

lever J, vibrating in the movable frame B, with bell or metal plates D D, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

OARL T. SCHNEIDER. Witnesses:

HENRY E. RoEDnR, JOHN F. ALLEN. 

